Crocus vernus

Ecology

A cormous perennial herb, well-naturalised in a wide variety of grassy habitats, especially in churchyards and amenity grasslands, and on roadside verges. Lowland.

Status

Neophyte

Trends

C. vernus, introduced into cultivation in Britain before 1600, is very common in parks and gardens and was first recorded in the wild in 1763. Some populations may be relics of cultivation as a substitute for saffron, and it is still found in great abundance at a few long-established sites such as at Inkpen (Berks.). It is unevenly recorded.

Atlas Change Index: 2.99

JNCC Designations

NBNSYS0000002273

PLANTATT - Attributes of British and Irish plants. (.zip 1455KB) This dataset was compiled and published in 2004, and last updated in November 2008. Download includes an Excel spreadsheet of the attributes, and a PDF explaining the background and nomenclature. Note that the PDF version is the booklet as published, whereas the Excel spreadsheet incorporates subsequent corrections. A hardcopy can be purchased from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.